What the VSIP Offers to Students
The VSIP provides a paid internship in the field of crime victim services that may not otherwise be accessible to the student, while nurturing a cooperative working and learning relationship between the host agency, the intern, and COVA.
Our foremost commitment is to aid in the learning experience of the intern by providing them with the tools to become experts and leaders in the field. Throughout the duration of their year-long internship, the VSIP Director is available to serve as a mentor and offers additional support, training, and networking opportunities pertinent to their area of interest. Regular intern meetings also provide additional education and peer support.
COVA’s Victim Services Internship Program (VSIP)
The VSIP seeks to improve the delivery of services to historically marginalized crime victims, by reducing the disparity in service provision between the high number of crime victims from underserved populations, compared to the low number of victim service professionals of similar backgrounds. The victim services field has evolved over several decades, however, crime victims from some communities continue to face systemic barriers when accessing services.
In order to address this discrepancy, the intention of the VSIP is to increase the number of victim service professionals who hold diverse identities, by offering college students the opportunity to develop advocacy & leadership skills, and receive hands on training by serving crime victims from various backgrounds and communities.
*Please note that internship availability is contingent on our funding and therefore spots are limited. Thank you
2023 Facts
Spotlight
- Max, Lakewood Police Department Victim Assistance – Tulane University/Social Work &Disaster Resilience
- Aliyah, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office Victim Response Unit – Adams State/Sociology &Criminology
- Bailey, Pueblo Rape Crisis Services – CSU Pueblo/Criminology
- Barbara, The Blue Bench – MSU/Social Work
- Brisa, Project Safeguard – UCD/Psychology
- Elliot, Family Tree Homelessness Program – Newman University/Social Work
- Esperanza, Longmont Police Department Victim Services – Aims Community College/Psychology
- Gabriela, Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center – MSU/Social Work
- Gabrielle, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center – MSU/Social Work
- Imelda, Blue Sky Bridge – UCD/Criminal Justice
- Isabel, Voces Unidas for Justice – UCCS/Social Work
- Jacquelyn, Voces Unidas for Justice – UCCS/Social Work
- Jade, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office Victim Response Unit – Adams State/Social Work &Criminal Justice
- Kat, COVA-Human Trafficking Program – Aspen University/Business Administration
- Kathryn, Phoenix Center at Auraria – MSU/Social Work
- Margaux, Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center – DU/Social Work
- Matthew, Regis University Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention – Regis University/Information Technology
- Mia, A Woman’s Place – UNC/Psychology
- Naomi, The Blue Bench – Walden University/Mental Health Counseling
- Natasha, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center – MSU/Social Work
- Nigh, Phoenix Center at Auraria – UCD/Psychology
- Noor, Denver Children’s Advocacy Center – UCD/Public Health
- Priscilla, Alternative Horizons – Fort Lewis College/Sociology &Human Services
- Quinlan, Rose Andom Center – MSU/Social Work
- Shiloh, Rose Andom Center – MSU/Social Work
- Taylor, Alternative Horizons – Fort Lewis College/Criminology
- Adaly, Denver District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Unit – MSU/Criminal Justice
- Alaina, The Center for Trauma and Resilience – DU/International Disaster Psychology
- Alejandria, Pueblo Children’s Advocacy Center – CSU Pueblo/Social Work
- Arisson, The Blue Bench – Denver Seminary/Counseling &Theology
- AJ, Alternatives to Violence – CSU/Social Work
- Audrey, The Phoenix Center at Auraria – MSU/Social Work
- Ayodelle, Westminster Police Department Victim Services – MSU/Criminal Justice &Trauma Studies
- Aysia, The Blue Bench – UCD/Counseling
- Reyna F., Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Victim Response Team – CSU/Sociology &Criminal Justice
- Tenzin, Lutheran Family Services – DU/International Disaster Psychology
- Rachel, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network – DU/Social Work
- Gisselle, 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office – UNC/Criminal Justice
- Patrina, Aurora Police Department Victim Services Unit – DU/Social Work &Mental Health Trauma
- Maria, Larimer County Victim Response Team – CSU/Sociology &Criminal Justice
- Tahleiah, Sexual Assault Services Organization-Fort Lewis College/Criminology & Forensic Science
- Marissa, Haseya Advocate Program-MSU/Social Work
Student Intern Information
Fill out the application above.
Complete a VSIP Intern application (above)
● Submit a cover letter
● Submit a resume
● Agree to a release of information for a background check
* All internships are in person, if you would like to intern with a specific agency, we recommend you verify they are located within a reasonable proximity.
- Have an interest in advocating for crime victims
- Identify as a member of an underrepresented community
- Commit up to 20 hours per week at a host agency
- Commit to 9-12 months **Must be graduating in Spring 2025 at the earliest in order to be fulfil the 9-12 month commitment.
- Be enrolled in an accredited college or university for the duration of the internship
- Commit to maintain confidentiality with the highest level of integrity and respect for others
Examples include, but are not limited to, communities who face systemic barriers due to their race and/or ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, physical ability, and/or immigration status.
* Please note: service providers who identify as male, regardless of other factors, are underrepresented in Victim Services. According to the 2020 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 12.7 % of victim advocates identified as male.
Background checks are completed by the VSIP. However sometimes, the host
agency will also conduct their own background check.
Criminal justice agency entities often have a more extensive process and likely
follow federal criteria. While marijuana possession and use are legal under Colorado state law, possession and use is a crime under federal law. Marijuana use or possession may prevent an applicant from being accepted as an intern in a criminal justice agency.
The VSIP is responsible for the facilitation of the internship; therefore, students
will not intern at the COVA office. Instead, students will intern at a host agency with which we have a partnership.
Host agencies vary from systems-based to community-based and include police
departments, district attorney’s offices, domestic violence shelters, children’s advocacy centers, non-profit organizations, etc.
You can find potential host agencies in our COVA Service Directory. We work with a variety of agencies across the state, please make sure you are filtering based on areas of interest and location.
*Please be aware not all host agencies are recruiting interns at the time students apply.
Host Agency Applications
Fill out the application above.
- Complete a VSIP Host Agency application (above)
- Submit intern’s job description
- Submit agency’s equal employment opportunity statement
- Agree to a site visit with the VSIP staff to tour the facility and learn more about
the services provided
- Serve crime victims
- Be able to host an intern for 9-12 months
- Interns must be providing victims of crime direct services in some capacity
- The intern stipend allows students to dedicate more hours to meet agency needs
- Interns commit to work within their host agency for 9-12 months
- The VSIP screens each intern candidate prior to referring them to assess the
best possible match for the intern and the agency - Interns are provided with additional trainings
- Scholarship opportunities are available for the intern to attend the COVA
Conference and/or Basic Victim Assistance Academy
For further information regarding the Victim Services Intern Program
Please contact the COVA office at 303-861-1160 or via email
Christa Taylor, VSIP Program Director Christa@coloradocrimevictims.org